Sarah MacLean is an American author known for historical romances that blend sparkling wit, memorable characters, and genuine emotional depth. Her bestselling series, including Rules of Scoundrels and Bareknuckle Bastards, have made her a favorite among readers who love sharp banter, high stakes, and swoony love stories.
If you enjoy Sarah MacLean’s books, these authors are well worth adding to your reading list:
Readers who love Sarah MacLean’s blend of wit and heart will likely be drawn to Tessa Dare’s playful storytelling and irresistibly charming characters.
Dare’s novel The Duchess Deal introduces Emma Gladstone, a practical seamstress who unexpectedly proposes marriage to the reclusive Duke of Ashbury. Scarred by war, Ashbury wants an heir but has no interest in romance.
What begins as a practical arrangement gradually deepens into something far more tender, with sharp banter, laugh-out-loud moments, and real emotional warmth along the way. Dare has a talent for creating characters who push against society’s rules in delightful and entertaining ways.
If you’re looking for humor, chemistry, and a heroine easy to root for, this is a wonderful place to start.
Julia Quinn writes charming historical romances filled with lively dialogue, warmth, and plenty of heart. If Sarah MacLean’s style appeals to you, Quinn’s The Duke and I is an easy recommendation.
The story follows Daphne Bridgerton, a clever and spirited young woman, and Simon Basset, a handsome but enigmatic duke. Together they embark on a fake courtship: Daphne hopes to attract suitable suitors, while Simon wants to avoid the ambitions of London’s matchmaking mothers.
Of course, pretend affection has a way of turning complicated. Their arrangement soon leads to humor, longing, and unexpected emotional entanglements.
Quinn captures Regency London with charm and ease, balancing lighthearted banter with sincere feeling in a way historical romance fans tend to adore.
If you enjoy historical romance with vivid characters, emotional payoff, and effortless dialogue, Lisa Kleypas is a natural next author to try.
In Devil in Winter we meet Evangeline Jenner, a shy heiress who is desperate to escape her manipulative relatives. Her solution is bold: a marriage of convenience with the notorious Sebastian St. Vincent.
What follows is anything but predictable. As Evie claims her independence, Sebastian is forced to confront feelings and desires he never expected to have.
Kleypas combines tenderness, sensuality, and a richly textured historical setting to create a romance that stays with you long after the final page.
Eloisa James writes historical romance with flair, humor, and a strong emotional core, making her a great match for Sarah MacLean fans.
In When Beauty Tamed the Beast, Linnet Berry Thrynne finds her reputation in ruins and agrees to marry the abrasive Piers Yelverton, Earl of Marchant. Piers is brilliant, sharp-tongued, and far from easy company.
Their clashes are as entertaining as they are romantic, and the growing connection between them gives the story both sparkle and heart. James’s dialogue is especially lively, which makes the emotional moments land even more effectively.
For readers who enjoy clever exchanges and passionate, memorable leads, this novel is an excellent pick.
Elizabeth Hoyt delivers historical romances packed with intensity, chemistry, and vivid storytelling. If you enjoy Sarah MacLean’s energy and emotional stakes, Hoyt is well worth exploring.
In Wicked Intentions, Temperance Dews is a practical widow struggling to keep an orphanage running in London’s dangerous St. Giles district.
When the enigmatic Lord Caire asks for her help navigating the city’s darkest corners, she agrees—but only at a price. Their partnership leads them through scandal, danger, and buried secrets, while an unexpected attraction grows between them.
With daring characters, palpable tension, and a darker edge, Elizabeth Hoyt offers a gripping take on historical romance.
Lorraine Heath is a strong choice for readers who want historical romance with emotional depth, compelling characters, and plenty of tension.
In Lord of Wicked Intentions, Evelyn Chambers is a sheltered young woman suddenly exposed to the dangers and temptations of London society.
Rafe Easton is a powerful, emotionally guarded nobleman who seems unreachable—until Evelyn enters his life. Their relationship unfolds with intensity, vulnerability, and the kind of emotional pull that keeps the pages turning.
If you like your romance passionate, layered, and deeply felt, Heath’s work is likely to satisfy.
Readers who enjoy Sarah MacLean’s spirited characters and rich historical settings may find a lot to love in Jennifer Ashley’s novels.
A standout place to begin is The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. The book introduces Ian Mackenzie, a Scottish nobleman viewed by society as eccentric, and Beth Ackerley, a compassionate widow intrigued by his unusual perspective and honesty.
The romance unfolds with care as Ian navigates other people’s misunderstandings and prejudices. Ashley balances emotional nuance, romantic tension, and strong characterization particularly well.
The result is a memorable love story with depth, tenderness, and a hero unlike any other.
Mary Balogh is a Welsh-Canadian author celebrated for historical romances set in Regency England. Her novels are known for their emotional richness, thoughtful character work, and elegant prose.
In Slightly Married, readers are introduced to the Bedwyn family, a close-knit group of siblings whose lives are each transformed by unexpected love.
This first book in the Bedwyn Saga centers on Aidan Bedwyn, a reserved soldier who vows to protect Eve Morris, an independent young woman facing an uncertain future.
Their marriage of convenience gradually becomes something much more meaningful, making this a rewarding choice for readers who appreciate heartfelt, character-driven romance.
If you like Sarah MacLean’s smart, entertaining historical romances, Lenora Bell is another author to try. Her books have a playful energy and a strong sense of fun.
In How the Duke Was Won, the Duke of Harland plans to choose a proper bride through a carefully organized competition. Charlene Beckett, however, is secretly taking her half-sister’s place and must win his favor without revealing her true identity.
The setup leads to humor, romantic tension, hidden identities, and plenty of lively interaction between the leads.
It’s an enjoyable, fast-moving read for anyone who loves clever premises and swoony historical romance.
Readers who appreciate Sarah MacLean’s wit and adventurous spirit may also enjoy Katharine Ashe’s passionate historical romances.
In The Rogue, Lady Constance Read, an intelligent and determined young woman, sets out to uncover the true identity of the mysterious Falcon Club member known only as Saint.
As secrets come to light and attraction builds, the story delivers clever banter, twists, and a satisfying sense of momentum. Ashe writes heroines with backbone and gives her romances a lively, adventurous feel.
For fans of charm, intrigue, and strong chemistry, she’s a natural fit.
Joanna Shupe is an especially good choice for readers who enjoy bold characters, sharp dialogue, and historical settings that feel vivid and fresh.
In The Rogue of Fifth Avenue, set amid the glamour of New York’s Gilded Age, lawyer Frank Tripp is tasked with protecting heiress Mamie Greene from scandal. The problem is that Mamie is anything but predictable.
Far from being a passive heroine, she spends her nights gambling in underground clubs to help others in need. As their worlds collide, sparks fly, secrets surface, and the tension between them intensifies.
Shupe’s novels offer a slightly different historical atmosphere from Regency romance while still delivering the wit, passion, and rebellious edge many Sarah MacLean readers love.
Caroline Linden writes historical romance with warmth, humor, and emotional sincerity. If you’re a fan of Sarah MacLean, her books should feel comfortably familiar while still offering their own charm.
In Love and Other Scandals, Joan Bennet is an outspoken young woman who finds herself increasingly drawn to the rakish and irresistibly charming Tristan, Lord Burke.
As Joan enters a world of flirtation, midnight adventures, and social risks, the line between scandal and romance becomes harder to define.
Linden’s stories are engaging, heartfelt, and nicely balanced, with memorable characters and just the right amount of steam.
Readers who enjoy Sarah MacLean’s emotional intensity and strong character work may also appreciate Sherry Thomas. Her Regency romances often dig deeply into longing, vulnerability, and complicated relationships.
In Ravishing the Heiress, Millicent Graves is a wealthy heiress who enters a marriage of convenience with Lord Fitzhugh.
They agree to wait eight years before beginning a true married life, giving each of them time to heal old wounds and live largely apart. But as the years pass, hidden feelings and changing circumstances bring them closer.
The novel is especially rewarding for readers who enjoy slow-burn romance, second chances, and emotional nuance.
Anna Campbell writes passionate historical romances with a darker, more emotionally intense edge, which may appeal to readers who enjoy the drama in Sarah MacLean’s stories.
Her novel Claiming the Courtesan introduces Verity Ashton, London’s most celebrated courtesan, who longs for a quieter, freer life. When she tries to leave that world behind, the powerful Duke of Kylemore refuses to let her go easily.
Their relationship is charged with desire, conflict, and vulnerability, revealing the pain and longing hidden beneath polished society façades.
Campbell’s books are dramatic, memorable, and rich in emotional conflict, making them a strong choice for readers who like romance with real intensity.
Readers who enjoy Sarah MacLean’s spirited romances may also be drawn to Christi Caldwell’s lively Regency stories, which combine passion, charm, and emotional depth.
In The Rogue’s Wager Lord Robert Dennington, a notorious gambler, finds himself facing an unusual challenge: winning the trust and affection of the respectable Lady Helena Banbury.
Helena is wary, intelligent, and far stronger than Robert expects. Their relationship develops through witty exchanges, romantic tension, and moments of genuine vulnerability.
Caldwell’s storytelling is engaging and heartfelt, making her a satisfying choice for readers who want both chemistry and character growth.
